Doha, August 25 (QNA) - Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar's (WCM-Q) cohort of first-year medical students received their first white coats and stethoscopes at a ceremony celebrating the start of the medical curriculum. 
A WCM-Q's statement on Tuesday said: "The White Coat Ceremony marked the culmination of a three-day orientation program, during which the students learned about the four-year medical curriculum, met with faculty and peers, and were fitted for their scrubs. This year's intake of medical students’ numbers 55, of whom 22 are Qatari nationals".
"The traditional White Coat Ceremony, officially known as the Opening Exercises Ceremony, is an important rite of passage for students as they make the transition from pre-medical studies to the medical curriculum," the statement added.
In his keynote speech, Dean of WCM-Q Dr. Javaid Sheikh said: "It is a great pleasure to mark this joyful occasion for those of our students who are opening exciting new chapters in their careers in medicine. All of us at WCM-Q look forward to helping these extremely talented and committed young people realize their wonderful potential. We have no doubt that they will all go on to make great contributions to the pursuit of excellence in medicine and patient care."
In his speech, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs Dr. Dietrich Busselberg said: "All of the students beginning new programs have worked with great dedication and perseverance to reach this point. With these qualities, combined with their love for science, their instinct to heal, and their intellectual curiosity, we are certain they will one day become excellent physicians."
The pre-medical and foundation students had a separate orientation program, which included a tour of WCM-Q's state-of-the-art campus followed by sessions on time management, academic expectations and integrity, student health and wellness, plus a reading project and opportunities to get to know the faculty and fellow students.
There was also a completion ceremony for returning Foundation Program students entering the pre-medical curriculum. Combined, the two-year pre-medical curriculum and four-year medical curriculum form the WCM-Q integrated Six-Year Medical Program, successful completion of which leads to the Cornell University MD degree.
The Foundation Program provides intensive instruction in the basic sciences, English and mathematics to prepare students for the rigors of the Six-Year Medical Program. The orientation programs, coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs, are designed to help students become familiar with the curriculum, facilities, people and processes of WCM-Q so they can quickly begin learning the material they need to master to thrive at the college. (QNA)